Facing Fort Smith Northside in the Class 7A state championship for the second time in as many years, it was a newcomer that made the difference for North Little Rock's senior boys Thursday night.
Transferring from Little Rock Parkview before the season, sophomore Moses Moody shined on the biggest stage for the Charging Wildcats.
Moody recorded 16 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals as North Little Rock avenged last year's 50-49 loss with a 64-51 win at Bank of the Ozarks Arena.
The sophomore shot 5-of-6 from the field, 2-of-2 from behind the 3-point line and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line to earn the game's most valuable player award.
"I feel great," Moody said after the game. "When I came over, the team welcomed me in, coach (Johnny Rice) welcomed me in and it's just been a great experience."
Both teams traded baskets to open the first quarter, but it was the Charging Wildcats who took an early 18-13 lead behind seven points from Moody and three points each by Ray Fresh, Collin Moore and Spencer Simes.
Northside's Isaiah Joe, a University of Arkansas signee, scored seven points on 3-of-6 shooting in the opening period, but the rest of the team combined for just six points on two made field goals.
"In my six years, we have won four championships and had a runner-up, but this is the best defensive team that we have had," Rice said. "I told them every championship team has something that they can hang their hat on that they are going to do well every single night. They bought into that we were going to shut people down defensively."
After Simes and Northside's Anthony Travis traded layups in the first 30 seconds of the second quarter, North Little Rock's Mekhai Washington broke loose for a layup of his own to spark a 7-2 run that gave the Charging Wildcats a 27-17 lead with 4:39 remaining.
North Little Rock maintained a double-digit lead throughout the remainder of the quarter, stretching its advantage to as many as 13 points before settling with a 34-22 lead at the half.
"When you get to this stage, you're going to have great players making great plays and they made great plays," Northside coach Eric Burnett said. "They stepped up and made plays to finish out the game. It happens like that."
Moore and Moody continued to shine for the Charging Wildcats to open the second half. The duo combined for 10 points in the third quarter, but Northside found its rhythm offensively to stay within striking distance.
While Joe was held to just two points in the third period, Javion Releford picked up the slack with nine points to keep the Grizzlies within 49-37 entering the final frame.
"Maintaining Isaiah Joe was the key," Fresh said. "We know he can get hot fast so we were trying to contain him and make guys that don't normally make plays make plays."
With the game on the line, the defending champion Grizzlies turned in one last run to make things interesting down the stretch.
Joe and Noah Gordon each buried a 3-pointer as Northside opened the fourth period on a 10-3 run to pull within 52-47 with 4:41 remaining.
After a layup by Travis trimmed the gap to five points, North Little Rock answered with seven straight points to put the Grizzlies away.
"They had us on our heels," said Rice. "They were in attack mode, because they were desperate at that point. Once we got past that first level, we were able to get to the free throw line and finish inside."
Moore recorded a double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds, while also making his presence felt on the defensive end with three blocks and three steals.
Named the Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year earlier in the day, Joe finished with 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals in his last game for the Grizzlies.
Releford chipped in with 12 points and two steals in 24 minutes.
Sports on 03/09/2018